This month marks 20 years because the failing and defective U.S. Military Corps’ levees overwhelmed the town of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. That catastrophe left an indelible mark on the town, with scars that may nonetheless be seen in some locations, but additionally stay in much less seen methods. These marks are not any much less extreme.

At The Lens, our journalists have spent the previous 12 months researching and writing concerning the impacts the flooding had on the town’s residents. On the training system, the legal justice system, the setting.

Throughout and after the storm hit, levees and floodwalls in New Orleans and the encompassing areas failed in additional than 50 areas, leaving 80% of the town flooded. The flooding resulted in energy outages and transportation failures all through the town, making the emergency response to the storm much more troublesome. 

After Katrina, federal, state and native governments spent greater than $12 billion on the development of 350 miles of latest levees, flood partitions and different buildings. However water corrodes metallic, so even with this huge expenditure, residents and others are questioning how secure New Orleans is from the following massive storm.

Our visitors this week embrace Pulitzer-prize-winning environmental journalist Mark Schleifstein and The Lens’ environmental reporter Delaney Nolan.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Extra music Beachheads and Iris by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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